Coasts through a comfortable Champions League qualifying win on his debut following a record £29.1million summer move from Leeds

Everton 1 Man Utd 2 May 2003

Gets his hands on a Premier League title medal for the first time as United come from behind to win at Goodison Park. Picks up a rare yellow card but outstanding to prevent Everton building on their early lead

Leeds 0 Man Utd 1 Oct 2003

Produces an outstanding performance against his old club not long after returning after being axed by England over a missed drugs test

Man Utd 4 Wigan 0 Dec 2005

Momentous night for Ferdinand, who finally claims his first United goal after 140 games. It is not the most difficult chance to convert, mind you, as he rises to turn home Ryan Giggs' corner

Man Utd 1 Liverpool 0 Jan 2006

The goal for which Ferdinand is most remembered. A last-minute header from Giggs' free-kick to snatch victoryagainst the fiercest rivals. Gary Neville was so delighted he picked up a £5,000 fine for his celebration

Man Utd 7 Roma 1 Apr 2007

Ferdinand described this as "the perfect performance". Trailing from the first leg, United blitzed their Italian opponents with three goals in the first 20 minutes - and kept going. "No one in the world would have got within two or three of us that night"

Rio Ferdinand rallies the troops against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final in 2008. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Man Utd 1 Barcelona 0 Apr 2008

He was to lose two finals against them but on this Old Trafford night, with Nemanja Vidic missing, Ferdinand had to be at his best to repel Lionel Messi and co as Barcelona hunted the goal to swing a pulsating semi-final in their favour

Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand, right, celebrate with the Champions League trophy after beating Chelsea on penalties in 2008. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Man Utd 1 Chelsea 1 May 2008

Ferdinand dances in the rain at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow as he wins the Champions League after a show of defiance in a rain lashed. On top in the first half but pegged back by Frank Lampard's equaliser on the stroke of half-time, Ferdinand's performance was one of defiance as Chelsea poured forward

Rio Ferdinand celebrates his goal to make the game 2-1 to Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson's final game at Old Trafford. Photograph: Peter Powell/EPA

Man Utd 2 Swansea 1 May 2013

Sir Alex Ferguson's final game at Old Trafford looks set to end in a disappointing draw. Ferdinand has other ideas as he crashes home a classic volley - his first goal for five years - to ensure a fitting end